Pupil premium

At Merlin Top Academy we recognise that all pupils regardless of their background should have equal access to a curriculum which will enable them to reach their potential. Introduced in 2011, the pupil premium is a sum of money given to schools each year by the Government to improve the attainment of disadvantaged children.

The Government have used pupils entitled to Free School meals as an indicator for deprivation, and have deployed a fixed amount of money to schools per pupil, based on the number of pupils eligible for Free School meals, who are Looked after, or who are children of armed service personnel.

This is based on research showing that children from low income families perform less well at school than their peers. In some cases children who are entitled to pupil premium face additional challenges such as poor communication skills, a lack of confidence and issues with attendance and punctuality. The pupil premium is intended to directly benefit the children who are eligible, helping to narrow the gap between them and their classmates.

Each year we are allocated a sum of money. Here you will find details about how we spend this money and the impact of the strategies we use.